Music: {allcanada} WHITECAPS AIM TO SECURE PLAYOFF BERTH WITH WIN OVER TIMBERS

Friday, October 19, 2012

{allcanada} WHITECAPS AIM TO SECURE PLAYOFF BERTH WITH WIN OVER TIMBERS

The Vancouver Whitecaps are one win away from making Major League Soccer history and they have the chance to accomplish the feat in their own backyard. Currently sitting fifth in the Western Conference, the Whitecaps are a victory from clinching a historic post-season berth.

If they are able to secure their first ever win over the Portland Timbers Sunday at BC Place, the second-year franchise will become the first Canadian based team to play in the MLS playoffs.

"There's so many things for us to achieve in one game and that's what you want as a soccer player, as a soccer coach or as a soccer fan," Whitecaps head coach Martin Rennie told MLSsoccer.com. "You want to be going into games where there's things on the line and things to achieve, and that's what it's all about and that's what we've got."

The only team that can catch the Whitecaps in the standings is sixth place FC Dallas, who will also be in action on Sunday against Seattle Sounders.

Entering play, FC Dallas sits four points behind the Whitecaps for the final post-season position.

For Dallas to remain alive in the playoff chase they will need to finish the weekend no more than three points behind the Whitecaps in the West. In that event, the race would come down to the final games of the season for both teams.

"Even if we get the help from Portland, we've still got to get the job done," said FC Dallas head coach Schellas Hyndman to MLSsoccer.com. "That's what I've always been focused on was to get a good performance in your games and at the end of the season you hope you get enough good performances that you can reach your goals."

Vancouver finishes their MLS schedule on the road against Real Salt Lake, while FC Dallas will play their final regular season game at home against last place Chivas USA.

After finishing last in the Western Conference in their first season in the league, the Whitecaps opened the 2012 campaign with promise. They picked up points in each of their first four games, including wins in their first two games of the season.

The Whitecaps remained in good form during the summer while also making adjustments to their roster. Those moves included trading designated player Eric Hassli to Toronto FC, striker Sebastien Le Toux to New York Red Bulls in exchange for Dane Richards and transferring Davide Chiumiento, to FC Zurich of the Swiss Super League.Down the stretch their season encountered some turbulence.

Prior to a 4-0 victory over Chivas USA in their most recent game, the Whitecaps were winless in seven consecutive contests, including two losses to FC Dallas, preventing them from securing their playoff position.

With a victory over the Timbers they can become the first of three Canadian MLS franchises to enter the post-season battle for the MLS Cup.